Do ‘Top Blogger Lists’ Really Mean Anything At All?

So here I sit, really not knowing how to start this blog post. Frankly, it’s one of those subjects that I know needs to be written about but also has the opportunity to be greatly misunderstood. But due to the fact that I don’t have a witty opening line to grab your attention, I’ll just say what’s on my mind:

Top Blogger Lists mean everything…and they mean nothing.

There, so I said it, and now I’ll hopefully make some sense of it.

They Mean Everything

This past Friday morning, as I was driving home from visiting my Dad in Charleston WV, I noticed a trackback I’d received to my blog. Glancing at the sender, my eyebrow raised high when I saw it was coming from ProBlogger’s Top 20 Bloggers to Watch in 2012 List.

Upon seeing this, immediately I asked my wife to read it out loud. Here is what the incredibly kind Jade Craven, who authored the post, had to say:

I love his blog. He isn’t a pseudo-guru testing his theories—he only teaches about stuff he’s personally experienced. He also has a talent for community engagement. Many of his posts contribute to the conversation surrounding many facets of our industry, which encourages related companies to adjust their model to serve bloggers better.

Hands down, Marcus is one of the coolest guys online. He helps so many of us when he already has a successful business and doesn’t need the social validation. I hope we’ll see a lot more of him in the coming year.

Upon reading the final words, my wife looked at me with tears in her eyes and a huge smile. My 11-year old daughter Danielle told me I was, “Awesome.” To say they were excited would be the understatement.

Yes, Recognition is Nice

You see, what most folks don’t see when they read The Sales Lion is the emotional investment that has been made by the entire Sheridan Clan since it birth 2+ years ago.

Most don’t know that when I started writing this blog my average sleep time per night went from around 8 hours to 5 or 6.

Most folks don’t hear the conversations I have with my wife and kids on a daily basis regarding this blog, the business, time spent away from home, etc.

Now don’t get me wrong friends. I’m not mentioning these things so you’ll in any way feel sorry for me (you shouldn’t), as it’s something I willingly signed up for and has been a major blessing. It’s also a story that has been similarly repeated by any blogger or business owner around the world trying their best to find success.

But I mention this because without the ‘group effort’ of my family, none of this is possible. There is a balance and order needed and all things, and we’ve worked very hard, together, to find said balance.

So when recognition comes from ProBlogger, or as it did with Jonathan Fields a few days later, there is certainly a sense of gratitude that comes with it.

We all like to be recognized for our talents and labors.

Every. Single. One. Of. Us.

Again, It’s All About YOUR Goals

But to be completely honest, had I not been included on ProBlogger’s or Jonathan’s list, I never would have blinked.

Why?

Because the only thing I judge my ultimate success on comes from the goals I’ve already laid out for my future.

And being on ProBlogger’s “Bloggers to Watch” list has never been, nor will it ever be, one of those goals.

The same could be said for any other ‘list’ or ‘ranking’ that’s online today.

Honestly, they aren’t on my validation radar whatsoever.

If they are a byproduct of my work, then great, but not for one second will I allow a list or ranking to define me.

Nor should you.

They Mean Nothing

I say this because as a result of being named to these lists I received an abnormally high number of emails that greatly concerned me.

Why?

Because they all asked a similar question:

“Marcus, what do you think I could do to get on a list like that?”

And with each email that came in, I literally cringed, and then responded with a simple question:

Why did you start blogging in the first place and was that one of your goals?

Think about it for a second- Why have so many in this industry gotten to this point of ‘list’ and ‘ranking’ validation? Is this how we judge all of our hard work and efforts? Aren’t there any other goals that define success and failure?

What do these lists really mean?

Yes, there is the recognition.

Yes, there is the chance for more traffic and links and such.

But at the same time, what do you think happens when a blogger, who has been on one of these lists, stops producing quality content?

What happens if they lose focus on their real goals(assuming they have them) and go after the non-fulfilling ones of the world?

Or better yet, what happens if they just stop writing?

The answer, as you might imagine, is their blog/business suffers like the rest of us. They are immune to nothing. Look at any past ‘top blogger lists’ on the web and you’ll see many folks who today are no longer even active online.

Last Week Does NOT Define the Future

The internet is a competitive place. Yeah, sure, last week was great for my blog.

Some will disagree with my thoughts here and call them too harsh, but I honestly feel that in many ways we’re only as good as our next post.

This is why I’m not one to look back and pat myself on the shoulder and then forget what got me here.

But this is also why it bothers me deeply when I read bloggers expressing their disappointment about not being included on lists or receiving the peer-recognition they feel they deserve.

As a young industry full of talented people, we must move past this.

Call me naïve if you wish, but I certainly think we can all do better.

Am I saying list posts and rankings are bad?

No, of course not. I’ve written my share of these types of posts in the past simply because I enjoy shedding light on great people who are blessing others through their work. This, in my opinion, is a very good thing and will never grow old.

But it’s also time we all understood and defined our true individual metrics of success, as it’s this vision that will carry us through the good and bad times that come with all the hard work, effort, and deep passion that is blogging.

Your Turn:

I’ve said my piece, but now I’d love to hear yours? Why do so many of us, as bloggers, allows lists, awards, and rankings dictate our feelings of self-worth? And what goals have you personally set that define your success with blogging?

As always, your thoughts and opinions matter, and I’d love to hear them below.

So glad you brought up this topic. ITs funny because I was on that list last year and I can honestly say it didn’t to much other than temporarily inflate my ego. Sure it was nice to be recognized, but I can’t necessarily tie any tangible benefits to having been on that list. I think it’s a funny goal for people to set to be on those lists. Granted I have a desire to be on Forbes 40 under 40 list at some point. But that would actually require more than just a popular blog. So yeah, I’m not sure these lists mean much. They might drive a small surge of traffic. It’s funny because in my e-book I actually mentioned that the best way to do these posts is to shine a light on emerging talent rather than the usual suspects.

January 5, 2012 at 1:55 pm

Eugene @ Content Strategy

Congrats on making the lists Marcus. If anyone deserves it it’s definitely you. While it may not achieve business goals directly, it does kind of signal that you are achieving a goal any blogger inherently has: you’re getting noticed. Why write a blog if you don’t want anyone to read it, right? And a list like this shows that you are doing well in that department.

January 5, 2012 at 1:58 pm

Ameena Falchetto

Well done for getting the recognition Marcus – that totally rocks. The fact that you weren’t expecting it is awesome.

I have to say the ridiculous number of lists of “people to watch/follow etc” over the last 2 weeks or so has driven me nuts … Personally I saw it as crazy noise. It was irritating. Unless it’s a big site who carefully selected people to showcase it was just a bunch of bloggers link baiting.

I was included in one list about women in business – really cool except they showcased my mummy blog and the info was incorrect – I’d never had contact with that person before so the list kinda left me numb.

I’ve seen lists ranging from 101 to watch to 50, to 25 … if you really want to make someone feel special make it 1, 2, or 3 … not a 1000!

And yes, it’s about goals … having my ego pumped is not why I’m here (but feel free to stroke it any time 🙂 )

January 5, 2012 at 1:59 pm

Sarah Arrow

We created a list of women bloggers on our site to honour the women who inspire and motivate us. A way of sharing with our community the people who have shaped who we are. Our list generated 75,000 pageviews in 3 days (we average 50k a week). So nothing spectacular but for us a tribute to some fantastic women and the opportunity to build a resource for others looking for women bloggers.

A friend of mine felt worthless that she was not on any lists ie she saw her friends on lists and she wasn’t on them. To me she is a dear friend, I’d like to be on her dear friends list – that’s THE list that I want to be on.

January 5, 2012 at 2:02 pm

Sarah Arrow

That would have been my list Ameena, my apologies for not getting the information correct or as a reader of your for not getting in contact. The intention was not to leave you numb and for that I apologise, I’ll remove you immediately.

January 5, 2012 at 2:08 pm

Michael Schechter

Nice to see your full thoughts on the subject after briefly talking it over with you the other day. The more I think about it, the less I think it is about goals (at least at the start). I think goals are something you need to work up to.

I said this to you on the phone, but I’ll say it again for anyone who reads the comments. Popularity and success like yours is not something that happens quickly, in fact, its not usually something that happens at all. Starting a blog with goals like getting your name on a top blogger list and a massive readership is crazy talk. It should start with interest, if not obsession, then turn into work. If you keep at it in the face of abject failure and disinterest and manage to capture the interest of others, then you can start thinking in terms of goals.

It isn’t about the accelerates, it’s always about the passion. Because not only do I think you genuinely don’t “care” about being on these lists (although who wouldn’t be happy), I still believe you’d be writing here even if none of us were following along (which is exactly why we keep coming back).

January 5, 2012 at 2:08 pm

Marcus Sheridan

I think a list that sheds positive light on others is a beautiful thing Sarah, and so well done for that.

Honestly, I don’t share the sentiments some have in that lists are just ‘link bait’ and nothing more.

We are in an industry where many people care about the success of others, and I think your blog certainly falls in that category.

But the final list you mentioned in your comment…YES….that is the one that matters most!

Thanks so much for your thoughts,

Marcus

January 5, 2012 at 2:15 pm

Marcus Sheridan

I really don’t see it all as link baiting Ameena. Maybe so in some cases, but many newer bloggers feel a sense of gratitude towards some of the more established folks they’ve been reading and want to express that. And heck, is there really enough of that in the world. In many ways, lists are one of the nice things I see in the blogosphere because it’s not a ‘let’s talk about how awesome I am’ action, but rather sheds the light on others.

And who decides if something is link bait or sincere?

Because there is no gauge, I lean towards sincerity. But maybe I’m just a silly naive Lion 😉

Thanks for jumping in my friend,

Marcus

January 5, 2012 at 2:16 pm

Ruth - The Freelance Writing Blog

This is a great reality check Marcus. I had my fingers crossed that I would be recognized on one writing list, in particular, and I didn’t even make the top 20 cut. But it’s been a couple of weeks, and I now realize that in some ways, these lists create a real distraction from our true goals, as bloggers and as business owners. Ameena is right – it’s a lot of noise.

Your post validates my instinct that I need to stay focussed on my true goals; continue bringing value to my readers and growing as a professional freelance copywriter and content marketing strategist. The proof is ultimately in the pudding, right?

All of that said – congrats. The comments on Problogger about you and your blog are spot on!

January 5, 2012 at 2:18 pm

Marcus Sheridan

Thanks Eugene, that’s very kind of you to say and as I mentioned in the article, I’m grateful anytime a person sheds light on my work and efforts.

And yes, getting noticed is a big deal in this niche we’re in, especially if you have certain goals.

But thanks for adding your thoughts bud, and I hope you’re revving up for a tremendous 2012!

Marcus

January 5, 2012 at 2:29 pm

John Falchetto

Marcus, you know the list is everything 🙂

Seriously do some people think that Problogger or Jonathan need to do linkbait lists? Come on.

When smaller blogs write a long list of their top 20 bloggers, the goal is very different, from thanking their readers to creating linkbaits to attract the peeps on the list to share the post on social media. Some do it well, others, well not so.

Why do list matter? Because bloggers have huge egos and being on a list strokes those egos. Same for awards and other ‘artificial rankings” We all need some sort of validation as bloggers, from comments to making it to a list. Some of us need it more than others.

If we didn’t want it, we would type our posts in a word document and keep them on our computer.

If someone writes a blog to be on a list, why not? They might need that little ego boost.

You don’t need it because your goal is much bigger than that.

Blogging goals? Well making the list is a side-effect, the real goal of a business blog is to generate leads.

January 5, 2012 at 2:35 pm

Jens P. Berget

Hi Marcus,

First I want to say congratulations for making the list on ProBlogger and on Jonathan Fields list. You truly deserves it, and your family as well. I know that this is as much a recognition for your family as it is for you. To me, it looks like they’ve been supporting you all the way, and that’s why I’m so proud of being in your tribe.

What you’re saying reminds me a lot about a video from Steve Jobs, it’s a one minute with brilliant Steve Jobs… this minute is very powerful and I’ve been watching it again and again 🙂

Being on a list can bring you new readers, which can turn into new customers, which can bring you more sales. Additionally, it can put you on the radar of event organizers that book you for speaking gigs. And you can fall under the gaze of publishers for a book deal.

However, I can see how some folks might put a lot of credence into willy nilly lists and use as “endorsement”, which could bring fun results…

But overall, I’m for them.

January 5, 2012 at 3:01 pm

Sean Davis

Marcus,

This is a great post.

I think the reason why so many people care about this is because it’s a free goal.

To figure out what your blogging goals are, you normally have to pay a price. You have to think. You have to plan. You have to execute. It takes effort to create and achieve goals.

But goals like making it on a list are different. Someone else is writing the post. They only have to like you and BAM… you’re on the list.

Some people start blogging with absolutely NO goals. I’m one of those people.

So, being on a list feels better than nothing. Fortunately for me, I couldn’t care less about a list either.

Now I’m just left with no goals. I’m working on that, though.

Outstanding article.

Sean

January 5, 2012 at 3:11 pm

Annie Andre

Hey Marcus, I actually enjoy roundups showcasing other bloggers or people. It gives me a chance to find new people to look into or follow.

As far as why do people want to be put on that list. Well, i don’t value myself on whether i get put on it or not. If I never make on there i’ll be fine.

However; i would still love to be showcased in the way you were so that someone like me searching for someone like you might have the chance to meet online. Plus, as Danny Brown said it has the potential to bring in new readers and potential customers. If it brings in just one extra person than it’s worth it.

Oh, And i would love to see my husband cry after reading an intro about me like that.

January 5, 2012 at 3:19 pm

Rebecca Livermore

Marcus,

Great post, as always.

The thing that stood out to me the most in what you wrote is, “Because the only thing I judge my ultimate success on comes from the goals I’ve already laid out for my future.”

Focusing on your own goals is super important, and I think I’d take it even further. My own opinion on this is that goals should be based on what we can, to a large degree, control. And though you can try super hard and do all the “right” things, you can’t really control whether or not you end up on a list like that.

The problem with this is that it really sets people up for disappointment, feeling like a failure, etc. when the reality may be that they have done an excellent job, even if it wasn’t recognized.

I will admit that I love being validated, but I’ve learned not to base my self worth on whether or not everybody loves me. 🙂

January 5, 2012 at 3:22 pm

Rebecca Livermore

Ameena, “And yes, it’s about goals … having my ego pumped is not why I’m here (but feel free to stroke it any time 🙂 ”

Ha, that pretty well sums it up! That is my take on it as well. I surely don’t mind having people tell me how awesome I am, but I can’t base my value on whether or not anyone is kissing my feet. 🙂

January 5, 2012 at 3:40 pm

Ameena Falchetto

Hey Sarah,

I sent you an email … it’s cool – Perhaps I could have been a bit softer with my words but it’s not my style … as I said in an email to you – being part of a HUGE list actually lessens the impact in my opinion, maybe I am wrong.

No hard feelings, I do appreciate you visiting my other blog and enjoying my series.

January 5, 2012 at 3:44 pm

Ameena Falchetto

Ok, I guess I might consider mincing up my words a bit … or maybe not.

So if you are included in someone’s round up list you’ve NEVER heard of? How do you feel?

Relationships are a 2 way stream.

I’ll end it there in fear of being dragged out into the square and having everyone scream “Burn the Witch (or something that rhymes with it)”

January 5, 2012 at 3:57 pm

Rebecca Livermore

I love silly naive lions. 🙂

And I also agree with Ameena that relationships are a two-way stream. But I’m wondering if it’s necessary to have a relationship with someone in order to be sincere about putting them on a list.

(No burning from me, Ameena!)

January 5, 2012 at 4:30 pm

personalised items

Hi Marcus, Congratulations! I am new to this site and I am glad that I found it. I think your post is great and informative. I agree with you that last week does not define the future. You are only as good as your last terrific post. But it sure is nice to be reading an article from someone who has earned the nod of his peers. Needless to say, it’s inpirational and a good motivation for people like me who want to carve their niche too. 🙂

January 5, 2012 at 4:33 pm

Jade Craven

I was wanted to butt in. I wrote the post and my goal is definitely not to create linkbait. I don’t get paid nor do I work for Problogger. I do it every year for fun.

I do it for the validation I get the day it goes live. When people write amazing comments. I read every single tweet linking to the post and the majority of people said it was inspiring – which is a much different tone from previous years.

I agree that lists aren’t really a big deal – all they are is that you got the attention of the author – but it’s kinda a big deal to me to see that I’ve made people happy. Yeah, I’m lame 😛

January 5, 2012 at 4:42 pm

Marcus Sheridan

First of all Jade, I think you’re far from being lame…very far from it. Plus you’re underpaid and under appreciated as well for what you have done with these because I know the time and emotional investment on your part is very, very high.

As I’ve stated before, I don’t think most top blogger lists are linkbait at all, especially when it’s coming from a blog that doesn’t need links, like a PB.

Also, a list like you created shows examples of some truly amazing people. Heck, I’ve learned a ton from it and picked up on some things I can be doing better….and that’s the mark of a great post.

I only hope you’ll continue to do what you do so well Jade and do know how much it was appreciated.

Marcus

January 5, 2012 at 4:47 pm

Jade Craven

Great, great post. I appreciate how you didn’t play down what it’s like getting on a list. Some people do (such as Ev Bogue) and it’s hurtful as the author.

I do agree with your overall sentiment. Last year, I got angry and did a guest post about it: http://socialmouths.com/blog/2011/04/12/how-to-really-get-on-the-problogger-list-of-bloggers-to-watch-2/ . Really, it boils down to the author knowing your blog exists. It’s that simple. As you’ve noticed, I’ve been checking the comments and seeing whether people have any suggestions for next year. I’m ignoring those who just say “I wish I was on the list”, and focusing on those who contribute to the conversation. That shows that they care about the community rather then just hope success will happen. I’ve already found someone I’m going to put on next years post because she left a completely unrelated comment.

I especially like how you brought up how many past bloggers aren’t even active. I was skyping with a mate (actually, a person on the list. For two hours, because that’s how you learn about people) and he came up with something called the Problogger effect. People get that paralyzed by the expectations of the list that they just… give up. It’s frustrating to watch because other then the initial buzz, the list is little more then something you look at to feel nice AND something you can leverage for social proof. It’s a chick that thought you were cool when she wrote the list.

I also believe that people shouldn’t worry about lists. People should care about relationships. I can help a friend so much in terms of connections and advice, and this will benefit them a lot more then a list.

So, thank you. I appreciate how you didn’t downplay the good stuff. I put a lot of unpaid time into writing this and I do it out of love. I’ve really enjoyed reading the comments.

January 5, 2012 at 4:47 pm

Marcus Sheridan

Oh Ameena, don’t worry so much, there will be no draggings on my watch. 😉

But I do have to add that the phrase ‘2 way stream’ is very, very relative. For example, I feel like I have a relationship with many great books and authors, but most I’ve never met.

And with good marketing, I think the whole key is to create the sense of a relationship, even though actual communion hasn’t necessarily occurred. (Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy’s here in the US, is a good example of this in my opinion.) Steve Jobs is another. The list goes on and on.

Anyway, I’ll stop there, but thank you again for being you Ameena, I wouldn’t ask for anything else.

Marcus

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January 5, 2012 at 5:08 pm

Sarah Arrow

It hurts Ameena to have something that took 3 months to research and 9 hours to collate dismissed as weird and too much. We have 20+ women bloggers on the site that all contributed the people they are inspired by. But you are (and everyone else is) happy and cool with you being you. 🙂 I am bowing out now to lick my wounds.

January 5, 2012 at 5:49 pm

Howie at Sky Pulse Media

Great post Mr. Marcus

I think lists are great. I also think they don’t mean anything. What are you looking for if what is important. I tend to find blogs from my peers vs any lists. Being in Marketing/Advertising I have looked at the Ad Age 150 rankings. And when I see that I read almost none of the top 50 I feel good about myself.

I have blogged about if you are seeking insights that you will use yourself with clients that separate you from others then why read what everyone else is reading. If you need help with tools like word press that might be different.

What I like about the list you made is that the blog subjects are all over the place. It’s not a Top 20 ‘people who teach how to blog’. And you deserved those words of kindness. When I first started on Twitter I followed Brainpicker but she turned out to be someone just posting links…many links and I got bored of them. Not even sure if I still follow her anymore. I don’t know why I am often not impressed with the people everyone are impressed with…Solis….Brogan…Scoble….even Godin.. for marketing….to me…yawn. Triple yawn. Would rather watch grass grow. Not sure why. But Marcus Sheridan now that cat has some heat going on!

January 5, 2012 at 6:14 pm

Ricardo Bueno

It’s nice to be mentioned, but I have to agree that it shouldn’t be your one and only goal and you shouldn’t get depressed over it either.

If you didn’t get mentioned, work your face off to get recognized in other ways!!

January 5, 2012 at 6:17 pm

Brent Carnduff

Great post Marcus. Its human nature for us to look for validation and pats on the back, I think especially so when writing for public consumption is so foreign to many of us.

I do think that they (the lists) are worthwhile though. In the past year I have found many blogs (and bloggers) that I enjoy reading, following, learning from, and interacting with. For me that started with one of your “recommended blogger lists” last year. Through those blogs I have found others and so on, and so on . . .

I think that sharing the names of writers and blogs that inspire us or educate us helps build audiences for all bloggers. After all, its probably safe to say that most of us do write to be read.

BTW – very deserving of the recognition my friend. Brent

January 5, 2012 at 6:46 pm

David Land

Marcus, The three things I most appreciate about you are your passion, honesty, and you are REAL! (Good Blog title) The only list that is really important is your list and I know your goal here is to help people. In the few weeks I have read your posts and comments, it has encouraged me. I have written my first three posts this week. They aren’t great, but I got off my butt and did it!

Great people help without concern for what they get in return. You are contagious and I hope we continue to catch it!!

For me, it’s easier. I’m putting my rep on the line when compiling it, so familiarity with the blog means I’m more confident with recommendations. It’s not necessary, though. Several people I found through friends who recommended them. Other people I found through the comments.

From my perspective – a relationship isn’t necessary. But I’ve written a lot of list posts, and people ask me for recommendations and I can tell you this: relationships do mean a lot.

January 5, 2012 at 6:59 pm

Tom Ewer

Hey Marcus,

I’m glad you brought this up. I loaded up my analytics the other day to see a few hundred referrals from ProBlogger, which is a considerable amount of traffic for my modest blog.

I saw the “20 Bloggers To Watch” link and got rather excited, only to be left a bit disappointed when I saw that it had merely been a mention of a post of mine at the bottom of the article that brought me the referrals. Grateful to have a post mentioned certainly, but disappointed that I hadn’t been amongst the 20.

But do you know how long that disappointment lasted? A few seconds – then I carried on with my day. Because although being on that list would have been awesome, it has literally nothing to do with my valuation of my blog, or my feeling of “self-worth” as a blogger.

Such mentions are a glorious bonus. They contribute towards it all being “worth it”, no doubt – but they are just a bonus – not the end goal.

It’s like ordering steak and getting it with fried mushrooms on top – pretty awesome, but I’m there for the steak – I would have been just as happy without the unexpected mushrooms.

Cheers,

Tom

January 5, 2012 at 7:03 pm

Jade Craven

Sarah – I’ve often felt the same. It actually really hurts when people criticize something you poured so much time into.

I do agree with Ameena, to a degree. I was on a large list post. The problem with such a large number is there is often less attention to detail, which can make me feel like someone is just trying to get my attention rather then supporting their community. Many list posts are used to get the attention of a larger blogger – I know, as people suddenly pay me a lot of attention in the months following this post.

A shorter list allows for more amount of detail but at the same time, a larger list means that you can help a lot more people. I would never have less then 20 on a major list post as I feel you need to showcase a wide variety of people, and that the audience gets upset if their niche/demographic isn’t represented.

– Jade

January 5, 2012 at 7:04 pm

Judy Dunn

This topic really needed to be brought up. Thanks for doing that, Marcus. I think that blogging can be lonely and anytime you are recognized for your efforts, well, that is a pick-me-up. And when beginning bloggers are looking to improve themselves, they can’t help but compare themselves to others. (There, I said it.)

I was on the Write to Done Tops 10 Blogs for Writers list last year and didn’t even place as a finalist this year. And that was okay with me. It was such a shock and delightto get a mention last year that I’ll be living on that high for some time. What I would like to see more of (and I think Jade’s ProBlogger list did that this year) is being introduced to some new faces.

What I don’t like to see (and please, God, let me be diplomatic about this) is a huge, huge list. It’s a rather selfish reason: I use those lists to find new blogs and it is just too overwhelming and time-consuming to sort through them all. Unless the same person is on multiple “long lists.” Then I tend to pay more attention.

And making Danny Brown’s 2012 list this year? Well, that was heartwarming. Especially when someone so successful pauses to remember folks who aren’t quite in that place yet.

I do not think that bloggers who list people necessarily have to have personal relationships with every blogger on the list, but, hopefully, they are familiar with that person work. Which they would have to be in order to recommend them, so strike that last thought.

An big congrats for being on the ProBlogger list, Marcus. But then we knew all along how awesome you are. : )

January 5, 2012 at 7:27 pm

Jade Craven

I can’t help butting in here –

Actually, you don’t need familiarity with every person on the list. I said above that relationships are important… but so are the everyday relationships you have. A couple of my friends emailed me with suggestions and recommendations, and I put them on the list even though I wasn’t initially that familiar with their work.

I do find though that relationships often develop with people that are brilliant and talented. In the time between choosing the people for the list, and the publication, I became good friends with a couple of the people.

I appreciate your comments as it helps me figure out what to do next year, and it’s hard to have a diplomatic conversation about list posts. I also agree on the length. I’ve done posts with 20, 30, 40 and 50 people. I think 30 is the maximum I’m comfortable with as it does lesson the impact, but I also get the temptation to shine a light on lots of awesome people.

A suggestion someone gave via DM was to do seperate posts highlighting the top people in certain niches, which I think may be easier on the reader. Listees get an intimate feeling, and it sounds better, and the readers aren’t overwhelmed.

While I’m here – are there any new faces I should be paying attention to? 🙂

January 5, 2012 at 7:42 pm

Rebecca Livermore

Jade,

For whatever it’s worth, I love the idea of separate posts highlighting people in certain niches. As a reader, there are a lot of topics I’m just not interested in, but I would love to discover new blogs on topics of interest to me.

Rebecca

January 5, 2012 at 7:47 pm

Nancy Davis

I guess I am now going to explain why I want this as badly as I do.

I have been blogging about some very intense, extremely personal stuff. I lay it all out there and all I am trying to do is get readers. To be on a list would be HUGE for me.

It all leads back to my goals which are always in my sight – stay top of mind for more readers who may purchase my book when it is done.

The other goal, get more exposure and maybe even (fingers crosses) an interview or a podacast. Maybe start speaking (which is my HUGE GOAL)

So, for me, being on one of these lists is a goal because it aligns with other goals.

Unfortunately for me, I am not taken seriously enough yet. I have to beg and plead to get guest posts. I guess I did that to myself, and must pull back and be very serious all the time so that my blog can be taken seriously.

I did a short list of blog posts from the past year that I liked and that was to thank my friends. I certainly don’t look for linkbait and hardly get pingbacks, so when I do, I am thrilled to death.

Like you said, it is all about the goals, and I have huge goals and I need to stop thinking small.

January 5, 2012 at 7:51 pm

Jade Craven

I agree. I’m not sure if that can happen over at Problogger – I’ll have a chat to the editor. I did have a different idea for the latest list but I had some real life issues that meant I couldn’t devote as much time to writing it.

Still – it doesn’t mean other people can’t implement it. Are there any other things you’d like to see in a list post, or anything that annoys you about them?

January 5, 2012 at 8:38 pm

Rebecca Livermore

For me, the main thing is the WHY. Why did the person make the list? That shows thought went into it, and also helps me determine if it’s someone I want to check out. By the way, you did a good job with this, Jade.

January 5, 2012 at 8:58 pm

Lis Sowerbutts

Nancy, and anyone else who believes this, the only person who needs to believe in yourself, is you. Frankly most other people on the Internet, couldn’t care less. The ONLY advantage of being on such a list would be a burst of traffic and maybe of signups to your list.

I’d be curious to know if Marcus has noticed much traffic coming from Problogger?

January 5, 2012 at 10:00 pm

Derek

I beg to differ. If you don’t start with a readership goal, how do you intend on building one? Remember, you don’t blog for yourself, and if you do, that’s cool, but don’t expect traffic. You blog for your readers, and if you keep them first, they’ll find their way to your site.

Also, when you mention that “I still believe you’d be writing here, even if none of us were following along.” Research says otherwise, actually.

In Dan Ariely’s book “The Upside of Irrationality,” they talk about just that. During an experiment, there were two groups of people. In one case, the work people did was acknowledged, and in the other case it was ignored.

Guess what happened? The people who did work that was ignored performed remarkably worse than the people who had their work acknowledged.

January 5, 2012 at 10:11 pm

Rebecca Livermore

Derek,

I definitely agree that it’s important to have people following along, otherwise, what is the point? I can just keep a journal if I don’t want people to read and interact with me.

I think we’re all probably wired a little different in terms of the type of recognition we value. I tend to value recognition from those I have a relationship with and respect, much more so than public recognition from people who have little to no relationship with me. At the same time, I’ll certainly accept and enjoy recognition other types of recognition as well.

January 5, 2012 at 10:53 pm

Laura

Well, I think it’s just human nature to want to accumulate accolades and the like… generally when I see the “best of” posts, it’s just a good sampler from that particular genre of bloggers. Most of the bloggers I like are on the smaller side, anyhow.

My goal is a blogger is to inform. I like to entertain, as well, even though most of the stuff I’m blogging about is slightly more technical – but I like to learn and not be bored, and I assume my readers do, too!

January 5, 2012 at 11:08 pm

Michael Schechter

Thanks for the counterpoint. I see what you’re saying and have learned lot from what you’re doing, but in this case I don’t agree. If someone is just starting out, they likely haven’t developed the skills that someone like you or Marcus has over years of publishing to the web. I know that Social Triggers is somewhat young, but from what I’ve heard you say you’ve been at this for a while now. In that time I have to imagine you’ve learned some essential skills that helped you get to the point where you could attempt and achieve what you have with your current site.

Someone just showing up to this game lacks several skills that can’t be solved by accolades or optimization. They have to learn how to write damn good content for a specific medium and they have to learn how to do that consistently. They have to learn how to work on their site and have a somewhat steep road ahead of them. They have far more important goals then getting on a top bloggers list.

Can you and should you optimize, absolutely, but first learn to love doing this and learn how to actually do it. And you have to build up a fair amount of work or reputation so that when you do optimize, there is something substantial for people to learn from. Back when I started, I made my blog, reached out to Chris Brogan and he was kind enough to share the link. It sent me a boatload of traffic, but I wasn’t ready for it and no amount of optimization would have helped. I needed time.

You’re always starting with the goal of having a readership. While I write as much for myself as I do my audience, I’m thinking of them constantly when I create something and I’m obviously looking to increase the number of people I can help. That said, my time spent learning how to do this rather than chasing goals I wasn’t prepared for helped me get to the point where I’m ready to optimize and ready to set some seriously ambitious intentions.

In all honesty, I’m not saying no goals, what I likely mean (I’m never quite sure myself 🙂 ) is that giving yourself time to learn and love what you’re doing should be the first goal. Acknowledgement may do well in the short term, but it isn’t going to keep you at it through the rough spots. No amount of accolades is going to beat someone who has learned to persevere. And perseverance takes some measure of failure through experimentation. Setting unrealistic goals (which most people setting goals at day one tend to do) is just as easy a way to lose your heart as lack of interest from others in what you’re writing.

Research may say otherwise, but Marcus has said it himself that he was at this for a pretty long while before things exploded. And by the way, I think his long term success will be all the better for that process. When people first show up here, it’s an embarrassment of riches.

Out of curiosity and to this conversation, I’ve seen you work with bigger guys like Chris, Jay and Marcus. I also know you do a lot to help smaller upstarts (such as myself). Where do you see the optimization work having the biggest impact? I’m sure it helps both, but I’d be interested to know where it helps more.

I could be dead wrong (and probably am), but getting to the point where people show clear interest in what you are saying and then optimizing seems as valid a optimizing something that people may not be all that concerned with…

January 5, 2012 at 11:18 pm

Jade Craven

I’m the author of this post and I agree with both of your points. Validation and accolades are important. Not so much with your community, but within yourself. I had a rough year which resulted in some bad things being said about me and trust me, the last thing I felt like doing was blogging. Whereas the conversation surrounding this post and a lot of the individual comments has provided that pyschological reaction that Derek is talking about. It is important as a motivator, but you have to really think about why it motivates you.

Now, Michael, your point is just as valid. I’ve put several people on lists that were early in their career. Many stopped blogging. Many experienced something called ‘The problogger effect’ where they got caught up in the attention and did anothing. I’ve learned that receiving such an accolade too soon can be damaging.

With this list, I tried to focus people that had been in the game for a while. Not necessarily with blogging, but with their work. Torre De Roche has been working on her book for years. Marcus had his pool business. There is a certain amount of maturity that comes when you’ve been doing it for a while and you don’t base huge business decisions on a mention in a post that is written by someone who is, to be frank, living below the poverty line. I can see potential but not profitabilty.

I think people see this posts as a way to reassure themselves that they are on the right path, rather then the ego boost. The people on this list have a completely different mindset to those I put on previous lists and I believe that is what makes it stand out.

Would love to hear your thoughts on this, as obviously I’m very close to the subject and have seen first hand about how this list affects people.

January 5, 2012 at 11:20 pm

Derek

Here’s the problem:

People start blogs about blogging when they haven’t created a blog other than their blog about blogging or their blog about social media marketing.

That’s not how it works.

People like Darren Rowse blogged about cameras and phones before Problogger. Clark blogged about real estate before Copyblogger. I blogged about entertainment, fashion, makeup, and other niches before I blogged about marketing. And even Marcus here, he blogged about pools before focusing on this blog.

No joke:

The competition OUTSIDE the blog space is easy. When you enter the blog about blogging world, you’re competing, with no experience, against the people who know what they’re doing.

Why would you do that? And if you do, why would you be surprised when you don’t get any results?

And what do you mean optimization work? What’s the question? Can you clarify?

January 5, 2012 at 11:41 pm

Michael Schechter

Couldn’t agree more there. In fact, that was my mistake number one. In hind site, I started out to be the 804,587 blogger blogging about social media. I didn’t have the requisite skills in the niche and I didn’t have the familiarity with blogging. Had I had firm goals, I would have quit instantly for the exact reason you said. Even taking into account that I was attempting to write about learning how to do when coming from outside the space, it was an insane way to start when competing with the guys that you’ve mentioned. That said, it taught me to blog, it helped me to write better and it ignited a passion for blogging. And through that, I finally honed in on something I can speak to with experience and authority, overcoming disorganization and chaos.

My experiences failing at talking about social helped me get to a point where I was ready to set goals (they also helped me get better and learn more about social, but another topic for another day). I would imagine that some of Darren’s early attempts at photography, Brian’s first posts on real estate, Marcus initial attempts at talking about pools and even your own early blogging were likely bumpy rides. I would imagine that there was some fumbling through darkness. Sure the resources are better now, but nothing trumps hands on experience.

As for the question… let me rephrase, do you goals or experimentation led all of those bloggers to successes the first time around? As for the initial question, what I’m asking is do you think the kind of site optimization that you suggest (e.g. the primary capture form on your site, the subscribe after each post, pop-ups) is as beneficial to someone who is just starting out or does it pay to first learn what you’re doing, figure out what it is you’re going to focus in on and then figure out how to best optimize for it?

January 5, 2012 at 11:52 pm

Derek

When people start blogs, they’re bound to make mistakes. Much of what I teach now is what I wish I knew when I had started.

I had a site that did almost 30 million hits in 2007, and I didn’t have an email list. Guess how dumb that makes me feel… :-).

Much of what I teach now, as I said, is stuff that I’ve done wrong in the past. I made the mistakes, so people don’t have to. That’s why you, and everyone else out there, should read social triggers. 🙂

January 6, 2012 at 12:01 am

Michael Schechter

Like you I had a bit of a strange year, mostly caused by me opening mouth (or in this case spreading fingers) and inserting foot. I think looking for that reaction and seeing people connect with your ideas are important. If no one’s reacting, you’re obviously on the wrong page. But I still find that interest and no accolades encourage people to keep going. I think it’s awesome that you highlighted Marcus, I’m also certain he would keep forging ahead had you not (although I’m certain he’s glad you did 🙂 ).

I couldn’t agree more or at least hope more that guys like Derek, Marcus see it as a sign that their heading in the right direction. I can certainly tell you that based on those two (and others like Nerd Fitness and Corbett) I’m interested in learning more about the rest of the people on the list.

January 6, 2012 at 12:10 am

Michael Schechter

Those mistakes are what make us what we are today.

My interest started when our company sold 300,000 units of a single product in a day on QVC, yet collected no emails, garnered no fans and didn’t have analytics in place to determine how much traffic and additional interest that item created for us. Those realizations are painful, but they’re best lessons.

Like you I mostly teach the things I’ve done to improve my past challenges (The site isn’t called A Better Mess for nothing). The more honest I am about those challenges and the solutions that have worked, the more people continue to show up. And for the record, that is why I read Social Triggers. I’ve learned and am implementing things from your site have gone a long way towards ensuring those visitors stick around 🙂 That said, I never would have gotten to this point if I was counting on their attention in the first place.

January 6, 2012 at 12:17 am

John

Marcus, Don’t underestimate the value of the Top 20 Bloggers list. It was through the list that I found & subscribed to your blog, and I am glad I did. I’m about to go into a new business venture and some of your information has helped me greatly. Sure it’s great to get recognition (…feedback is the breakfast of champions), but the real value of the recognition is in expanding your sphere of influence to help others on their path. It’s a good thing so enjoy it.

January 6, 2012 at 12:49 am

Marcus Sheridan

Oh, don’t get me wrong John, there certainly is value when a blog that has PB’s influence puts you on a list and links to your site. Heck, I think from that article alone I got at least 200 new subscribers to my newsletter and eBook downloads.

And please know too that I do enjoy this ride I’m on very much. It’s like being a farmer and working so very hard to have a good crop. That’s exactly what I’m doing with this blog and things are really going well.

But thank you so much for your support and readership John!

Marcus

January 6, 2012 at 12:52 am

Marcus Sheridan

Hey Laura and thanks so much for adding your thoughts here!

I agree that most best of posts are from one genre, as I’m certainly very guilty of this. But this is exactly what impressed me so much about Jade’s piece here, and that’s the fact that it was so very niche diverse…which is really, really nice to see.

Thanks again for stopping by Laura!

Marcus

January 6, 2012 at 12:54 am

Marcus Sheridan

Hey Lis, that’s a good question, and from what I can tell, the stats are this:

1. About 200 newsletter subscribers 2. A few interview requests 3. About 150-200 new twitter followers 4. About 50 new facebook fans

So yes, it was a nice burst as you mentioned, and still bringing in 30-40 a day as of this moment.

Thanks so much for asking Lis!

Marcus

January 6, 2012 at 1:07 am

Raj

In my place, most of the awards that are given to film actors, directors, etc. are either bought or influenced. There is no fair judgment. I guess an award or recognition has its value as long as the methodology to judge someone/ their creation is sound. Just because I know someone personally, I cannot give the award to them! These awards don’t carry value.

January 6, 2012 at 3:06 am

Ryan Biddulph

Hi Marcus,

A quote I read a while back: “The work is the reward.”

Spot on post buddy. The need for approval, or worse even, shying away from the fear of criticism, makes us want to achieve recognition. As if we “make it”, or will never be criticized again, if we reach a list of note. Of course it’s awesome, but it’s a moment in time, based on what you do before that time.

Honestly, if I became a billionaire, I would be a background billionaire. Each day I fall more in love with what I do, care less about accolades, fall more in love with my team, and field the praises and criticism in a similar light. Each is an opinion. Which has nothing to do with how I view myself.

Do I feel this way all the time? Nope. But insightful posts like these help me realize that the work is the reward, and the sacrifices we as entrepreneurs make, along the way, help us take all things in stride.

On a personal note, you really are 1 of the good guys. I mean that from my heart.

Thanks for sharing with us!

RB

January 6, 2012 at 3:46 am

Suzan St Maur

As well as running my own blog I am also Associate Editor of Sarah’s blog (see above.) Sarah, we must make a note that next time we work on such a list we must allow extra time to obtain permission and approval from the women we mention in case they don’t like the way we acknowledge their blogging capabilities and give them free publicity.

Come on, laydeeeze – get a grip! If I handed you a $100 bill you’d probably complain that it’s hard to get change for that and really I should have given you 5 x $20. Don’t be so ungracious and ungrateful.

January 6, 2012 at 4:23 am

Jade Craven

My stance isn’t being ungrateful – I’m the author of the Problogger list that is being discussed here, and in the previous years has been torn to shreds.

I’m simply commenting from my personal experience, and the experiences of those who provide me with feedback on list posts.

Ameena’s point is valid. It’s hurtful to you, as the creator, as most people don’t recognize the amount of effort that goes into such a post. I spend months collating mine and so many hours just writing and editing the darn thing. I find people feel more miffed about the accuracy of the information as that’s interpreted as not caring enough about the person. I know, because I’ve made mistakes.

The thing I’ve learned is to use the criticism to improve future posts – and be gracious when doing it. I used to get defensive but now I just ask questions. This years post has been the most popular yet because I removed my ego from it as a creator.

January 6, 2012 at 4:34 am

Jade Craven

Apologies – I’d forgotten I was on the list in 2011 and my comment may have seen like a personal attack. I was just trying to show that both sides have a point.

I’ve seen and heard every horrible complaint – and then have people pay me out so bad because ‘being on the list didn’t provide any direct benefits’ in the long term. People have said horrible things about me because I ignored their niche or even skin colour. It hurts like all heck. I had 1000 retweets on the first day and all I could remember was the guy that “hated every person on the list.”

So yeah, i get it. You can’t win. You just have to make next years list even better

January 6, 2012 at 5:01 am

Ameena Falchetto

Suzan – I am not ungrateful at all – I actually didn’t feel much to be honest. The list was Biz bloggers – I’m a biz blogger but that site wasn’t mentioned – had my parenting site been mentioned in a parenting round up it would have made sense but it wasn’t.

I only gave my experience to add to the conversation – I was in no means attacking, being ungrateful, or intending to hurt anyone – that is NOT my style.

Less is more, in so many ways and I still stand by my original comment.

January 6, 2012 at 5:04 am

Ameena Falchetto

Don’t you think that the blogging circles we run in actually tend to be pretty small? I don’t think it’s fair to compare to the examples you have given.

I know I see the same people regularly in different places and then a new face pops in … It’s too easy today to connect with people

January 6, 2012 at 6:54 am

Bryan Thompson

Marcus, I love this. You’re not knocking top lists – in fact, you’re praising them – but they are only a means to an end, not the ultimate goal. And you’re absolutely right. If you set top blogger lists as a goal, then you’ll certainly get there if you take action toward it. We get the things we spend the most focus on. But if your goal was to offer advice, share your knowledge, or even make a few bucks online, none of these are better or worse than the other, and you should only judge your success by how they are accomplished.

It reminds me of some personal goals that I’ve made. I reached them and there was a moment where I felt on top of the world. And then the moment was gone and I was thinking, “Okay, now what?” Our goals are a means to an end, too. And above all else, they give us growth.

Holy Moley Mane man, did you just predict the future? You may not understand this until you check your inbox. hah

January 6, 2012 at 9:18 am

Danny @ Firepole Marketing

Man, Marcus, every time I read your work, it’s a breath of fresh air.

Out of curiosity, all the people who emailed you about how to get on lists, and whom you asked about their goals – did they get the message?

January 6, 2012 at 9:30 am

Julia Stewart

Hey Marcus – Congratulations ~ as always, you’re doing an awesome job of leading in this crowded space.

I totally agree with you that best blogger lists mean everything and nothing, because I’ve been hosting a ‘Best Coaching Blogs’ contest on my site since 2009 (And yes, it was inspired by Hubspot).

In 3 years, I think I’ve seen everything. Cheaters (Life coaches cheating? Really?), last-minute upsets (Like a front runner that didn’t even finish in the Top Ten), SPAM and incredible traffic to my site.

I use popular votes and comments in my contest and, to keep cheating down, in the end, the best blogs are chosen by the finalists, themselves. It’s a popularity contest, but to win, bloggers have to reach out to each other and create relationships in order to win and that’s what blogging is really about.

You’re a great blogger and you create those relationships, so no surprise your blog is turning heads.

January 6, 2012 at 9:34 am

John Falchetto

Hi Jade,

I’m actually saying the opposite, Calling out people who think that Problogger or Jonathan Fields would publish posts for linkbait purposes. It’s ridiculous to think that.

And no you aren’t lame 🙂

January 6, 2012 at 9:47 am

Danny Brown

Great approach, Suzan. There are folks that would really appreciate being recognized – support them instead. Though it does make me smile a little, as usually folks that question lists still jump over to the comments to say how much it means to be on the list. Go figure… 😉

January 6, 2012 at 9:51 am

Ryan Hanley

That’s a really good question Danny…

Marcus you should write something on the response from the people who emailed you. It would be very interesting to see if they understood your message or if they just don’t care or what was really driving their question in the first place.

January 6, 2012 at 9:57 am

Steve

Great article Marcus,

The reminder to focus on WHY you’re doing what you’re doing and not to give the numbers, recognition and metrics more power than they have a right to is one that I needed to hear today.

I’m leaving this article feeling encouraged and that is a great thing!

Thank you!

January 6, 2012 at 10:10 am

Leon Noone

G’Day Marcus, I’m as turned on by recognition as the next bloke. And we’ve known recognition to be important since the famous Hawthorn studies in the mid 20th. Century. It aint a new idea. But I agree with you about goals. Michael Jordan said, “Talent wins games. Teamwork and intelligence wins championships.”

If getting on a list helps my business, that’s great. If it doesn’t ………….!

That’s all that I intended to write. But having read the comments so far, I’ve had another thought. Lots of bloggers seem to take themselves far too seriously. As a relative newbie to www, I get the feeling that lots of bloggers regard blogging as a wonderfully worthy end in itself.

It aint. It’s a means to an end. If you’re not certain what that end is……. I’ll go no further. I’ve probably ensured that I’ll never make one of those “Lists” ever again based on what I’ve said already!

Make sure you have fun Leon

January 6, 2012 at 10:32 am

Mark W. Schaefer

For me, it means something. I like it when people I connect with take the time to point out that they like my work. It’s a lot better than an algorithm. I’m not crass enough to think it is link bait. I think people, for the most part, are kind.

January 6, 2012 at 10:56 am

Andrea

Well Marcus, as you said everyone likes to be liked and being mentioned is one of the things that show us someone likes us and what we write. And that’s important for every human being. But again as you said this should not be a measure in itself because in reality we decide our goals, or we should, and that’s what demonstrate if we are successful or not. Our opinion on it. But if someone has the goal of being recognized and mentioned that’s cool, we are not all equal and we don’t have the same opinion. But recognition is inside the human nature especially if you are not a high profile person, it goes down when we consider ourselves successful through our values.

If you want my own point of view I think that when list of bloggers are done from a successful blogger about not so known bloggers is not only useful but really rewarding. When a recognition comes from someone “above” you it’s a good indication that you are doing well. I used the word above because I’m not able to find a better one.

But imho and without any intention to offend anyone I think that lists of bloggers 90 percent of the times are done with the goal of being “considered” by established bloggers. Like I could write a post about you, Danny, Frank, Sarah and so on in the effort that you might do the same to me and boost my traffic and recognition. It might be a good marketing tactic but that’s not my style.

Also I’m already commenting for that.

😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀

January 6, 2012 at 12:40 pm

barbara

wow Marcus… this was the first time I found the comments more entertaining than your post. Don’t get me wrong, I loved your take on this ‘award’ but nobody has the talent to draw out comments like you do. Genius!

Anyone who says they aren’t flattered to be on a ‘best of’ or ‘ones to watch’ list is flat out lying. I never expected anyone other than close friends and family would read my blog when I started. I was shocked to get feedback… and very good feedback… from strangers. Those strangers are now friends, whether we’ve met in person or not, and that’s reward for me.

You can start a blog knowing nothing about blogging, as I did, however when you do get loyal followers who are helped by your stories it changes everything. It’s no longer just about your simple musings. Now you have an obligation to make it better every time you post. At least that’s how I feel.

You have, hands down, the most avid and loyal readership I’ve ever seen and it’s because you are genuine. You truly care about your readers and it shows. It was right that you were recognized. Keep on keepin’ on my friend! b

January 6, 2012 at 1:03 pm

Hajra

Ok, it took me a LONG time to get through the comments but phew… here I am! I think when a lion roars, people do listen 😉 Congratulation BTW! You totally deserve all the applause!

There are a million thing a new year brings, ranking is one of those. And sadly, rankings are something we tend to judge ourselves by. But that’s how we have been going through life and tend to focus on. When we were kids, we were judged by the grades and the numbers we got. When we grow up our credits count and decide and thus it works so on. Now we make through all that just to further judge ourselves on how someone did or didn’t rank us.

About blogging, there are a zillion blogs out there, some get noticed, some don’t; some get noticed because they churn out good stuff, work on it, sweat on it. Not that others don’t do it, just might take time. But that doesn’t mean a blog is worthless. A blog’s worth shouldn’t just be measured in terms of making it to some list, it is whether the author is working on it so that all else follows!

Congratulations once again though!

January 6, 2012 at 2:21 pm

Harriet

Recognition is nice yes but its how it makes you feel that counts. The feeling of completeling a job is so much better than the feedback I feel.

January 6, 2012 at 3:55 pm

Jack@TheJackB

Derek,

I blog first for me and second for everyone else. I am not a minority there are a lot of us who approach it that way.

The people that last in blogging love what they do and or make money doing it. Those two items often don’t intersect.

January 6, 2012 at 4:05 pm

Jack@TheJackB

Some lists are linkbait plain and simple. I look at each list individually and make my decisions based upon what I see there.

The best lists demonstrate that the author has taken some time to read the blog they are “endorsing.” They provide a reason and rationale for why others should read that particular blog.

Is it nice to be recognized? Sure. There is a list of the Top 25 Sexiest Dad Bloggers and I rank number 4. I get traffic from that post every day and have for months.

When I have a problem with a list it is usually because it is composed of the same people year after year. That doesn’t mean that they aren’t good but there are great bloggers who don’t speak at Blogworld, Blogher or any of the other conferences but they never make the list because of a lack of exposure.

Do we blame the blogger for poor marketing or hold the list maker accountable for being lazy. Maybe it is somewhere in between.

January 6, 2012 at 7:48 pm

Brandon

Damn, Marcus. Looks like a hornet’s nest got swatted in here! I don’t know whether to congratulate you on a great conversation or tell you sorry…

At any rate, I’m not 100% sure that I’m adding anything to the conversation here (you have some serious players in my book commenting here) but to answer your question from my perspective:

Why do so many of us, as bloggers, allows lists, awards, and rankings dictate our feelings of self-worth?

A lot of this happens from the very beginning. The first day you publish, you see these lists and wonder “how, why, what…” then you try to emulate or do better than the people on the list, and now you power struggle with what YOU want to be, and what you perceive that you NEED to be.

In my case, I have been in the “daddy blogger” category from the beginning. I started seeing all the cutesy little badges and was sent a “sparkly blogger something or another” badge. I didn’t bite. It seemed silly and unprofessional to me. BUT that was because of my goals. I talked briefly via email, I believe, with Danny Brown about goals once, namely platforming for future use, as I had nothing “tangible” at the moment to offer.

He agreed with my own answers to my questions. From there on, I didn’t worry about widgets like Friend Connect and Networked Blogs. I didn’t care about “top daddy blogger” lists, because most of them call for you to pimp yourself for votes and look a bit less than professional (my opinion). I’ll pass.

The rest, I think, is being a little naive. It stands to reason that top bloggers, companies, etc… are not following everyone they are “keeping an eye on” openly. Just like celebrities, they can’t draw that kind of attention to themselves. These list posts are only accentuating people who are already doing well and have somehow established themselves already.

January 6, 2012 at 10:31 pm

Jade Craven

This happens more often then you’d know – and you can really see through it. I went through many list posts to write the Problogger one and you could see who was trying to get attention vs who was trying to help people.

As a marketing tactic, it’s not as effective. Whereas writing a post like my one is much more effective as it’s a diverse group with many unknown people on it, so people know it’s about recognizing inspirational people. That’s the feeling I got from the conversation around it 🙂

January 6, 2012 at 10:39 pm

Jade Craven

I wouldn’t say the list-maker is being lazy. I went to blogworld in 2010 and put a bunch of attendees in the Problogger post, purely because I wanted to represent a wide variety of niches. People did respond to that, but i felt bad because it was too centric on those that could go to a conference. That’s something I tried to avoid this year, which people loved.

It does take a long time to compile such lists though. Finding enough familiarity with a completely new blog can take hours. Having familiartity with bloggers beforehand can cause people to question your intentions. It’s a sucky position to be in. I believe a lot of responsibility falls on the blogger for bad marketing.

There were many suggested blogs that I didn’t include because there about page wasn’t clear. I couldn’t make the endorsement because after reading multiple posts, I had no idea what they did. There were also many people whose sole form of marketing is just adding a comment saying they wish I’d included them. More often then not, their blogs suck.

I reckon that people shouldn’t assume they’ll just be covered. They need to get out there and get attention, even if they can’t attend a conference. Otherwise how the heck am I going to find them?

January 7, 2012 at 12:08 am

Jack@TheJackB

Hi Jade,

I understand what you are saying but I stand by what I said. I am one of the obnoxious old men of the blogosphere. We used to see some of this stuff with the Truth Laid Bear ecosystem.

Most of the lists I come across are driven by popularity and notoriety. I understand that these lists are usually compiled by a person(s) for free but…

Sometimes when I look at the lists I see blogs that haven’t been updated in quite some time. They are there because they are living off of their reputation.

Anyway, list making isn’t going to disappear. Those who don’t make it have to find validation in other ways or not worry about being excluded.

January 7, 2012 at 12:16 am

Jade Craven

I agree. Most lists are a wank-fest of patting each other on the back and sucking up. My whole schtick is monitoring that stuff and it’s embarrassing. Especially when they were put on a list because “I met her and she seems cool.” No context, no reason for anyone else to care.

😉 The only time people usually put me on such lists or reach out to me is after I’ve written this one. “Oh we haven’t talked in months? That’s fine. How can I get on that list?”

I kinda prefer putting people on a list that really wouldn’t give a damn. It’s like ‘oh yay, this will be nice to tell my parents about. Now, let’s get on with working.’ I have a lot of things that piss me off but I can’t talk about things without alienating anyone.

January 7, 2012 at 12:24 am

Marcus Sheridan

This is what I like so much about you Srini– you have a keen ability to look back and call a spade a spade.

Although I have seen some tangible benefits in terms of subscribers (about 200 or so added from the article from what I can tell), once the initial thrust wears off it’s back to the same old, same old.

Thanks for dropping by my friend, appreciate your support man.

Marcus

January 7, 2012 at 12:27 am

Marcus Sheridan

Well put Jade.

Whatever you did, it worked. The scope of the bloggers is what blew me away.

And anyone that said they were familiar with every blogger on that list would likely not be telling the complete truth in my opinion.

Amazing diversity there. 🙂

January 7, 2012 at 12:28 am

Marcus Sheridan

I’m thinking ‘wank-fest’ might be the funniest word of all time.

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming… 😉

January 7, 2012 at 12:33 am

Marcus Sheridan

Michael, may I just thank you for jumping in with such an incredible conversation. I haven’t said much because I frankly didn’t want to mess up a good thing between you and Derek, and I’m glad I didn’t.

Derek was phenomenal as well. This is what blogging is supposed to look like.

January 7, 2012 at 12:36 am

Marcus Sheridan

Ruth, great comment, and I think it speaks for many people.

I think we all have so many good instincts when it comes to what we should be focused on…and then silly metrics and rankings get in the way, blinding those instincts.

Hahahaha, yes John, it is in the list….what the heck was I thinking??? 😉

We agree my man. Validation is something we all seek (if we’re being honest with ourselves). It just varies from one person to the next.

And btw, you’re trying to generate leads with your blog?? What’s up with that? I thought comments was the best business model. 😉

January 7, 2012 at 12:45 am

Marcus Sheridan

Man, that Jobs was a pensive guy, wasn’t he Jens? Wow.

Appreciate your incredibly kinds words my friend. You’ve been such a major support to me over this last year, and I certainly am grateful….and still hope we can meet at some point!

Marcus

January 7, 2012 at 12:48 am

Marcus Sheridan

I stand very much with you on this Danny. I feel, for the most part, lists are a very good thing.

For example, the one you did recently was excellent, and when a blogger like you, with your amount of readers, sheds light on newer bloggers, that’s a HUGE deal for many of them…and it can bring new readers, joy, and relationships….powerful stuff IMO.

Thanks for the comment man,

Marcus

January 7, 2012 at 12:53 am

Marcus Sheridan

Isn’t it amazing Sean how many people start blogging without any real goals?

I certainly didn’t have many…other than to rock the world…but I don’t think that counts much 😉

Well, when you figure them out though man, I’d really love to hear what they are. Seriously.

Keep making the magic happen my man.

Marcus

January 7, 2012 at 12:57 am

Marcus Sheridan

Thanks so much for your take on this Annie (and love the new avatar pic btw!)

I share your sentiments. No, we should not ‘worry’ about lists but yes, they do make a difference and they can certainly help folks.

The post from Problogger earned about 200 or more subscribers to my site. Considering it took me over 6 months of blogging to reach my first 200, this is a good number, and I’m very grateful for it.

Have a great weekend Annie and thanks so much for stopping by!

Marcus

January 7, 2012 at 1:01 am

Marcus Sheridan

GREAT point about what we can and cannot control Rebecca. And lists are a perfect example of something that, for the most part, we really can’t control.

And if we can’t control it, we simply need to let it go. 🙂

Thanks so much for all the comments!!

Marcus

January 7, 2012 at 1:03 am

Marcus Sheridan

Yep, that’s exactly it Ricardo. Getting depressed over something that has so little to do with our ultimate success…plus the fact that it’s outside of our control….is crazy.

Thanks for stopping by bud and keep crushin it! 🙂

Marcus

January 7, 2012 at 1:05 am

Marcus Sheridan

Agreed Harriet!

January 7, 2012 at 1:08 am

Marcus Sheridan

when a lion roars, people do listen

Hahahaha, love it Hajra!

And you’ve got such a great way of looking at this too. The bottom line is what is the author doing, not what list he/she is or is not on.

Thanks so very much for dropping in Hajra!

Marcus

January 7, 2012 at 1:10 am

Marcus Sheridan

You are so very kind to say all of this Barbara!

I was very honored to be included on this list. And after the many, many late nights and early mornings of time invested in this, it feels very good to see the growth happening.

And about being genuine, thank you. I truly try to be utterly real, for better or for worse.

Have a great weekend B’!

Marcus

January 7, 2012 at 1:12 am

Marcus Sheridan

I’m with you Mark. I’ve done 4 or 5 lists in my day and never thought, ‘Man, I bet everyone will link to this baby!’….and I think most people share my sentiments…and are simply expressing gratitude, something we don’t see enough of these day anyway.

Thanks for stopping by bud,

Marcus

January 7, 2012 at 1:13 am

Marcus Sheridan

Thrilled it helps Steve. Really man.

And keep pushing it my friend!

Marcus

January 7, 2012 at 3:27 am

Andrea

Hi Jade, I probably should read that post now, seems interesting. You summarized perfectly my point of view: if lists are made out of real appreciation or to help people getting known, like the one from Danny which got me to know some very good blogs, they are worth and helpful. If they are done to get attention or traffic they are not.

But being on a list like that especially for a blogger who is just moving his or her first steps in the blogging world is so cool. And good for self esteem too. Obviously self esteem should not be based on being listed somewhere but if a successful bloggers tells you that you are writing good stuff it is a kind of recognition that you are moving toward the right direction. And it’s a pleasure to receive, much more than any badge. 🙂

Thanks for your answer.

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January 8, 2012 at 4:28 am

David

Personally i don’t need any recognition.. what’s matter is they follow my blog/site and they learn from it.

Great job Marcus!

January 8, 2012 at 7:52 am

Marya | Writing Happiness

A big congratulations Marcus. I won’t get into the debate of long vs short lists, or how much they mean but I do know this – they do mean something. If not, most (?) of us would not be striving to write content compelling enough to catch the author’s eye. Because this is what it all comes down to, is your content worthy of getting some attention?

I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t matter. I was over the moon for making Danny’s list. And good things have been happening to me since his list, and after my blog made it to the Finalists: Top 10 Writing Blogs list. No complains from this side.

I didn’t set out to make any lists, this is not a goal of my mine, but every bit helps. Like you said somewhere in the comments below, I especially admire lists that bring upcoming bloggers to front and center. Thanks Danny! And Marcus ofcourse for always telling it like it is. Cheers.

Marya

January 8, 2012 at 8:15 pm

Danny Brown

Agreed, Jack. I know Deerk’s goal is to make money and there’s a certain approach he follows/recommends. Then there’s the others, like the ones you mention. And the great thing is, both can live alongside each other quite happily, with everyone getting exactly what they want/need.

January 8, 2012 at 8:15 pm

Danny Brown

DAMMIT! Derek – I meant DEREK!!! 😉

January 8, 2012 at 8:20 pm

Danny Brown

Hey there Andrea,

Thanks for the kind words, sincerely, and really glad you were able to find some great new bloggers through the “12 Bloggers…” list. Because that’s what it’s all about at the end of the day.

You’re more than welcome, miss, and as I said, it’s been really good discovering you and your content in the last few months. Here’s to good times ahead! 🙂

January 8, 2012 at 9:57 pm

Brandon

Thanks, Danny. I appreciated the fact that you took time to hear out a little guy. Pretty decent of you. 🙂

January 8, 2012 at 10:54 pm

Marcus Sheridan

Amen to that DB!

January 8, 2012 at 10:58 pm

Marcus Sheridan

Marya, I was thrilled that DB mentioned you in that post of his, because you really did deserve it. There have been a few times when I’ve read a post on For Blogger by Bloggers, and loved the content, without knowing who it was at first, only to find out you had done it.

If you keep that up Marya, you’re going to have one heck of a 2012. 🙂

Marcus

January 8, 2012 at 11:00 pm

Marcus Sheridan

Hey David, I would say yes and no…yes, following/learning from your site is good, but also there has to be another ‘end-goal’, at least for most of us. For some, that might mean contacts, customers, job opportunities, brand recognition, or something of that nature. So if I may ask, is just having people follow you the end goal, or is there something more?

January 8, 2012 at 11:13 pm

Marcus Sheridan

I appreciate the words ‘personalised items’, but do you have a personal ‘name’?? 😉

January 8, 2012 at 11:17 pm

Marcus Sheridan

First of all Howie, I’m not on the Adage 150, so obviously it’s a bogus list and you should never pay attention to it!! 😉 (jk, I have no idea if I’m on their radar!)

But I very much agree with you Howie regarding this list. It was easily the most diverse I’ve ever seen. That made it feel special, no doubt.

Thanks for being awesome man and I hope your year is starting off well!

Marcus

January 8, 2012 at 11:19 pm

Marcus Sheridan

Fully with you Brent…it can make a huge difference and impact a lot of people, which is why I’ll continue to write my own in the future and feel they certainly have a place in the blogosphere.

And thanks for the kind words my friend, you’re a great guy and I’m really glad we’ve met this past year.

Continued success,

Marcus

January 8, 2012 at 11:21 pm

Marcus Sheridan

One of the best dang comments I’ve read in a long time David!!

Action baby, that’s what all this comes down to….Without it, I’m wasting yours and my time. With it, we can change the world together.

I really mean that and am thrilled you took a moment to say it sir!

Marcus

January 8, 2012 at 11:23 pm

Marcus Sheridan

Great point Tom….very well said. Yes, these lists are a nice bonus…any recognition is.

But they’re not the end goal…and it’s the end goal we must always remember and hold on to.

Nice job on getting that link btw man!!

Marcus

January 8, 2012 at 11:27 pm

Marcus Sheridan

Judy, let me just say I’m so grateful you took a moment to write this. Your thoughts are always so real and heart felt…and that stuff really sticks out online.

I agree that super long lists lost their efficacy…no doubt. In fact, going forward, I’m going to try and keep mine down to less than 15 total.

And btw Judy, I think you’re a heck of a writer. You deserve to be on Danny’s list and many, many others. 🙂

Marcus

January 8, 2012 at 11:31 pm

Marcus Sheridan

I appreciate your honesty Nancy. And I know it is very, very tough not getting recognition.

But keep in mind that in many ways this is a war of attrition. Most folks don’t have what it takes.

And let’s be honest, you write in a field that is broad and competitive. You may need to channel your focus a little more…(or not).

But stay positive and strong…don’t allow the negativity to creep in…you’re way stronger and better than it is…and deserve more too.

Wishing you a wonderful 2012,

Marcus

January 8, 2012 at 11:33 pm

Marcus Sheridan

You’re right Raj, but in many cases, awards are built first on relationships.

But again, that’s what makes what Jade did here so unique. I was blown away with these folks, and Jade and I don’t really know each other at all, with just a small amount of online interaction in the past.

Thanks for dropping by Raj!

Marcus

January 8, 2012 at 11:36 pm

Marcus Sheridan

Each day I fall more in love with what I do, care less about accolades, fall more in love with my team, and field the praises and criticism in a similar light.

Dang Ryan, that was one heck of a statement, and it says a lot about where you are and where you’re going man.

Tremendous stuff bud and thank you so very much for the kind words, that means a lot coming from you.

Marcus

January 8, 2012 at 11:39 pm

Marcus Sheridan

Appreciate that my man.

You’re one of the best my friend, and I have a feeling you’re going to be on many lists as time goes on. 🙂

Marcus

January 8, 2012 at 11:39 pm

Marcus Sheridan

Nice serendipity man 😉

January 8, 2012 at 11:40 pm

Marcus Sheridan

Great question Danny. Honestly, I think most did get the message after my question…and got ‘re-centered’, if you know what I mean.

January 8, 2012 at 11:43 pm

Marcus Sheridan

Wow Julia, sorry for my late reply here but this was an exceptional comment and I do appreciate it.

And it sounds like you’ve got quite a bit of experience in this area of ‘lists’…very cool.

May your coaching business continue to grow in 2012 Julia and I hope to see you again!!

Marcus

January 8, 2012 at 11:52 pm

Marcus Sheridan

Oh Leon, my good ‘ol curmudgeon, it’s having opinions like you do that actually gets one recognized to be on a list…so I say keep it up buddy. 😉

And yes, there is an end here for me that is way, way deeper than what I really ever talk about…no question about it my friend.

Be well bud. 🙂

Marcus

January 9, 2012 at 9:12 am

Danny @ Firepole Marketing

That’s amazing, Marcus. That’s a very hard message to “get across”, and if you managed to do it, then you’ve done them a real service. 🙂

January 9, 2012 at 11:24 am

Danny Brown

Anytime, mate. The way I look at it, no-one is better than anyone else, or “bigger”. So someone has 100,000 subscribers – does that make them a better blogger, or a bigger “knowledge base” than someone with 10 subscribers?

Not necessarily – it just means they’ve been around longer. Which could even mean they’re becoming less relevant due to comfort zones.

Here’s to bloggers being “big” for their audience because that’s where we all grow. 🙂

January 11, 2012 at 8:46 pm

Mitch Mitchell

Man, I’m always so late to these things; sigh… lol

Anyway, I have a slightly different take on lists. In the long run they might not mean tons to most people. In the short run though they do. You probably missed my posts from last year where I highlighted blacks in social media who are usually overlooked by any lists whatsoever. My issue with that is that many times people who end up on lists like this are invited to speak at conferences and the like, and sometimes get paid well to do it. For me, ignoring an entire group of people meant once again that “we” were being excluded from the possibilities and opportunities that everyone else gets.

That’s why it’s sometimes important. That’s why I took all that time working to find 50 black people to highlight, to make sure there was some list that highlighted what I’ll call a disenfranchised group. So, to me, it is a big deal, and I congratulate you on making that list; at least there was one black person, two people of color on it, for once.

You know me Marcus, keeping it real.

January 11, 2012 at 9:32 pm

Jade Craven

Hi Mitch,

I saw your posts last year on the Problogger post. As the author, I remember feeling hurt. I’m an Aussie so I probably don’t have the same feelings about it as you do. When you say ‘of colour’, are you specifically talking about African Americans? Culturally, I don’t think I have the same experiences you have about blacks being a disenfranchised group. I know I’m ignorant in that respect, but I just don’t have exposure to it on the day to day level. That’s not an excuse – it’s just a sign of living in a different country. Do others in your blogging community feel as strongly as you do?

See, each year it’s just 20 people that I think are cool. There’s a lot of focus on my communities so its skewed towards Aussies and certain niches. I know that after reading your comments, I did google for the top black bloggers. I’m very particular about the types of blogs I include on the lists so people I did discover were excluded for reasons like bad blog design, lack of community, poor blog description.

I checked out your ones. There are a few that I’ll look at more closely when it comes to next years list (outside of social media/biz, as people have said they are sick of that.)

For me the list didn’t seem like that big a deal (my list, I mean.) As Srini said above, it does very little career wise other then make you feel good. It’s the stuff you are doing outside of your blog that makes them get paid well. Trust me – I know many people on the previous two years whose careers have bombed regardless of being on the list.

So basically, while I understand where you’re coming from, I wanted to say that exclusion isn’t intentional. I honestly don’t know how inclusive and diverse a list should be as there are so many communities and niches. I’m Australian and we are influenced a lot by the asian blogging community and I often ask myself should I focus more on those, or should I include more Americans as that is where a bulk of the conferences etc are held.

What I’m trying to say is that I do get your point and it’s something I was very aware of when creating this years post. But when there are so many communities and niches wanting to be featured – where do you draw the line?

Someone did make a comment on the problogger post by saying that “What you’re asking for is some kind of quota.” Somehow, that’s what it feels like I have to do. Certain number of females, make sure everyone is evenly spread over contitents. It triggers my anxiety and makes me not what to do it anymore. All I want to do is say ‘here are people that i think are doing interesting things’ rather then having it be a ‘top’ contest.

I’m not trying to pick a fight or anything. Exclusion is never intentional and it’s something I keep in mind, but I just get so confused and strung out before writing each post that I’m genuinely confused as how I can create a list that helps both the readers and those I feature.

I would genuinely appreciate any insights you may have. I honestly don’t know what to do to please everyone.

– Jade

January 11, 2012 at 10:34 pm

Mitch Mitchell

Thanks for your response Jane. I saw that comment last year and got really angry; I hear that mess here in the states all the time and just want to slap every person that says it because it’s not true.

For me, it’s all about inclusion. Sure, people can have their lists of favorites, and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, at the same time I saw your list last year I saw 4 others and only one had a person of color, and that was an Asian person. So it was a timing thing with me and if you look back at that post, I wasn’t the only person of color who said something, but once it got ugly I left it and wrote about it on my own blog.

This part sounds cruel and it’s not meant to be but it’s easy for folks who don’t have a minority background to say that they’re not intentionally excluding anyone because there’s kind of a privilege to not being minority. In the US for instance, there isn’t a single person of color anywhere in this country who could say they’ve never met a white person, but even in 2011 I still met people who could tell me they’d never met a black person in, well, person.

I could go deep into it here but I don’t want to hijack Marcus’ blog. I’ll just go with this point, something I write often on my blogs. People can do whatever they want to do, say whatever they want to do and highlight whomever they want to. But they also have to be ready for someone to have a different point of view because they have a different background and perspective. I didn’t have a problem with your list specifically; those were probably all good people. I had a problem with it being one of many at the time that didn’t have a single black American face amongst it. Since you saw my posts, you see these folks do exist, some of them very prominent in their own right, and they never seem to end up on anyone’s list. If looking for just one person is asking for a quota, then so be it.

Thanks for reaching out; maybe we have an understanding of each other at this juncture.

January 11, 2012 at 11:00 pm

Jade Craven

I do see your point, and thank you. I think I am priviledged in many ways and it’s hard to think about minorities because, well, things do come pretty easy. I have a mental illness and am biased towards that community but it’s been pretty easy getting treatment. I think in my case, it’s because Australia is pretty fortunate in a lot of ways that I just assume people have the same outlook. Even though, I only know of one Aboriginal blogger in my community. And I’m considering to be someone that’s pretty connected.

I do write a lot of list posts. In 2010, Charlie Gilkey was a blogger to watch. And I put Stanford Smith on a post about netsetters to watch. I’m cool with people pointing out stuff as it means I can make the list better, I just feel really awful when the comments occasionally get snarky and attack me. I also only saw your posts just now 🙂

Do you think that people sticking to their own communities goes two ways? I remember asking people to recommend their favourite bloggers and I don’t think any african americans responded, or were recommended.

I do understand your point – I get it. I don’t have the same experience you do, but I know that you weren’t trying to be hurtful when pointing that out. There were a few really hurtful comments on the problogger post so I couldn’t tell what was and wasn’t a personal attack.

I don’t know if I’ll do it for a fourth time but this post, and your response, has given me a lot to think about. The post holds a lot of sway and it could be leveraged to shine a spotlight on bloggers that are even more diverse then the list I just did.

Thanks 🙂

January 12, 2012 at 12:18 am

Marcus Sheridan

Really appreciate your point Mitch, as always man. You say what you feel, and I respect that …a lot.

And the fact that you do a top 50 list is very, very cool.

Well done my friend,and thanks for adding to the conversation here.

Marcus

January 12, 2012 at 4:53 am

Andrea

To be honest I don’t think that the color of the skin has anything to do with blogging. Beside the fact that a feature of blogging is freedom and that every blogger has the right, when allowed by law, to write and express his or her thoughts as he or she sees fit and if writing a list of bloggers to put on it whatever he or she wants, really the color of the skin doesn’t matter. What does matter is competency, quality and knowledge of the rules of the business.

That you struggle to name others should tell you everything you need to know.

January 13, 2012 at 1:34 pm

Kombet Kampret

Hi Marcus, a topic that can provide enough motivation to novice bloggers like me. I can only congratulate and thumbs up for your topic. Sorry if my speech is not good, because my english is not good, and indeed english is not my everyday language. once again thumbs up to you. regards Kombet Kampret

January 13, 2012 at 11:22 pm

Andrea

Yeah, I’m a newbie and my focus is just to read, learn and write. But Mitch you’re probably right and I should try to find the time to know other bloggers. To broaden my knowledge. 🙂

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January 21, 2012 at 10:18 pm

Amber Avines

This is an interesting way to spell it all out, Marcus.

First, congratulations! Being recognized as someone who provides value and is nice in the process is an accomplishment. It also helps to get your name and content in front of new people. I’ve always been very grateful when I’ve been added to a list because it’s always nice to be acknowledged for providing worthwhile content.

But, as you say, you can’t just work hard with the sole goal of being recognized. You’ll get discouraged really fast. Like anything worth building, it takes time and effort to build a reputation. And, at the end of the day, we have to feel good about ourselves first and foremost.

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February 2, 2012 at 8:52 am

breakup to makeup

Thank you! I’m going to subscribe to your RSS Feed to be updated on your latest posts. I can also contribute some information since I know the topics that this blog covers.